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How Can I Eliminate Plastic Bottle Taste

Q: No matter what I try, the water in my bike bottles tastes terrible after an hour or so of riding. Is there any way to eliminate the plastic undertones? — Roy W.

COACH FRED: There are several reasons why water might take on a bad flavor. With old bottles, the plastic taste often seems worse. Sometimes cold water doesn’t bring out the objectionable taste, but as the water gets warm during a ride, the nasty flavor intensifies.

A popular solution is to wash your bottles in the dishwasher (but turn off the high-heat drying cycle!). Also, you can let bottles stand overnight full of water that contains a teaspoon of baking soda, a dash of mouthwash or a slice of lemon.